Nepal mudslide rescue hampered as roads remain buried, 734 dead

Rescue operations in Nepal are being severely hampered by impassable roads and deep mud, days after devastating flash floods and mudslides tore through the region on Wednesday. The main highway heading north from Kathmandu towards the worst-hit districts remains blocked beyond the town of Trishuli in Nuwakot district, forcing aid and rescue teams to rely heavily on helicopters.

A local resident who had just left the affected area described the scene, noting that while the road up to Trishuli is still passable, everything beyond is cut off. "Only helicopters can get in," he said, adding that movement on foot or by vehicle is impossible. The mudslide has buried entire structures, with one five-story building reportedly left with only its top two floors visible above the silt.

A police officer returning to Kathmandu after his first phase of duty in the disaster zone detailed the grim conditions. He said the environment is extremely harsh, with deep mud covering everything. Roads have been completely washed away, bridges are broken, and vehicles cannot pass. He warned that with the rainy season ongoing, frequent rainfall could trigger further mudslides.

As floodwaters recede, the bodies of victims are being carried downstream and transported to medical facilities in Kathmandu for identification and forensic examination. Officials at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital say the influx is overwhelming, with limited cold storage capacity making preservation difficult. Bodies are being transferred to other hospitals as quickly as possible.

According to Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, 734 bodies had been recovered from the mudslide-hit areas as of Sunday morning, with 2,498 people still reported missing.